Worcestershire wait on Shakib

Shakib Al Hasan must remain with Bangladesh for a further week before beginning his overseas stint at New Road

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been forced to delay his arrival at Worcestershire.

The county were hoping Shakib would join up with them this week after the completion of the NatWest Series against England - in time for the Royals' final two Friends Provident t20 group matches with Warwickshire Bears and Lancashire Lightning.

But the Bangladesh Cricket Board insisted the 23-year-old - ranked number two bowler in the ICC world rankings - remain with them for another week.

Injuries mean Shakib is required to play one-day internationals against Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands.

Worcestershire now hope Shakib - the first Bangladesh player to sign with a county - will be available for the LV= County Championship clash with Derbyshire starting on July 21.

Worcestershire chief executive Mark Newton said: “We understand the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s stance.

“Of course we are disappointed, but they regard all their matches as important and they have picked up a number of injuries.

“But when you sign international players this can happen as their boards have first rights, so it’s a great shame that Shakib will miss the finale to our Twenty20 campaign.”

Shakib had been expected to fill the gap left by Australian opening batsman Phil Jaques, Worcestershire’s overseas player for the opening half of the campaign.

They need to defeat Warwickshire and Lancashire to have any chance of reaching the quarter-finals of the Friends Provident t20.